UX/UI Design
Archiv., 2023
A mobile app designed to enhance reading by leveraging AI to transform the book industry and elevate the reading experience
Timeline:
April - August 2023
Tools:
Figma, Google Forms, InVision
Role:
UX Research, UX/UI Design
The publishing industry, unlike retail, has managed to retain its traditional roots despite the rise of technology. While print books remain popular, there's immense potential for technology to enhance the reading and learning experience without replacing printed books entirely. This project aims to leverage AI to improve e-learning and the publishing industry, creating a more immersive and accessible experience for readers. By integrating AI, we can transform the way readers engage with content while preserving the value of physical books, striking a balance between tradition and innovation.
🤨
Readers hesitate to switch to e-books
📖
Physical books remain dominant
📲
Digital formats lack perceived benefits
The Solution
The AI-powered app is designed to be a versatile digital library, offering a seamless reading experience across iOS and Android.
It features built-in translation, audiobooks, and extensive UI customization to suit individual preferences.
Readers can track their progress with gamified reading time statistics, explore personalized recommendations, and engage with a vibrant community through reviews and discussion forums.
The app aims to make reading more accessible, interactive, and enjoyable for all users.
Competitive Audit
Category | Kindle | Wattpad | Scribd |
|---|---|---|---|
Limitations | Mainly for reading, not community
• Must create Amazon account | • Genre bias (e.g. romance)
• Less content variety | Users don’t own books
• Limited downloads
• Some content restrictions |
Strengths | • Strong integration with Amazon
• Great for serious readers
• Deep reading features | • Community-driven
• Great for discovering emerging writers
• Highly interactive | All-in-one subscription model |
Key Features | • Highlight, annotate, bookmarks
• X-Ray feature
• Translation
• Custom fonts & themes
• Massive library
• Portrait/Landscape modes | • Inline commenting
• Write and publish stories
• Follow authors
• Voting system
• Reading insights
• Highlight & annotate | Summarised reads (Blinkist)
• Highlight, annotate, bookmark
• Group content
• Offline reading
• Limited downloads
• Audiobooks, podcasts |
Pricing | Pay-per-book; some free books | Free | £10.99/month (30-day free trial) |
Platform | Kindle device, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
User Research
To understand user frustration, needs, and requirements, I conducted user research through a user survey and structured interviews for my project. This step is particularly very useful to meet the project objectives as the data gathered will be highly beneficial in gaining further insights into the user’s experience within the book industry and on how to improve it.
An online survey was conducted, involving 148 participants. The objective of this research was to delve into the participants' specific pain points and motivations concerning their reading experiences. The survey consisted a range of inquiries, including general questions about participants' reading preferences and their attitudes toward different types of books and reading platforms.
Three individual interviews were conducted where the participants were within the age range of 21-27, who came from different backgrounds. Although our primary emphasis was on gaining a deeper understanding of their requirements, objectives, and challenges in their reading experience, the various viewpoints they brought forth yielded a variety of valuable insights.
1️⃣
Difficulty remembering characters, leading to frequent backtracking to previous chapters for clarity
The design will have a feature that provides detailed character information, eliminating the need to backtrack.
2️⃣
Gets easily distracted when using reading apps, resulting in frequent app switching
The design will incorporate a gamification feature to encourage consistent reading habits and reduce distractions from other apps
3️⃣
Physical books can be challenging for individuals with visual impairments
To address this, the design will allow users to tailor the reading experience to their preferences such as font sizes and colours
User Personas
User Journey Map
Goal: To trade her unwanted items for something more useful, creating a mutually beneficial exchange with others in the community.
Starting The Design
I focused on several key tasks to build a solid foundation for the app. I began by creating a sitemap to establish the overall structure and navigation flow. Next, I sketched paper wireframes to brainstorm and visualise initial design ideas, which then evolved into digital wireframes that refined the layout and functionality.
These wireframes were used to develop a low-fidelity prototype, allowing for early user interaction and feedback. Finally, I conducted usability studies to test and gather insights, ensuring the design met user needs and expectations.
Paper Wireframes
I created paper wireframes as a preliminary step in the design process to quickly explore and visualise different layout ideas without the constraints of digital tools. This hands-on approach allowed me to focus on the overall structure and functionality of the app, facilitating rapid iterations based on feedback.
Digital Wireframes
The primary goal was to create a simple and intuitive user interface that enhances the overall user journey. By priortising clarity and ease of use, the design aims for an efficient navigation to ensure that users can quickly access and complete their tasks.
Study Type
Unmoderated Usability Study
Participants
30
Duration
10 - 20 minutes
1️⃣
Some users found certain sections difficult to navigate, noting they were unaware they could scroll further or swipe left and right for additional content.
2️⃣
Older participants (ages 25-50 and above) showed a stronger preference for usability-focused design, while younger participants (ages 18-25) leaned toward aesthetically pleasing designs, highlighting generational differences in design priorities.
3️⃣
Users indicated that having access to the top books in each category would help them stay updated with current book trends.
Usability Study
The purpose of this survey was to gather user feedback on the design solution to further improve it for a better user experience. In order to ensure that the survey is questioning the intended audience, the survey starts with a few screener questions about their demographics and behaviours first. This step is important when conducting a survey as it helps filter out participants that are not aligning with our requirements.
To determine the best solution for the users, A/B testing was carried out as part of the study. A second design solution was also presented and participants were tasked with indicating their preference between the two versions.
Version 1
Version 2
Mockups: Before And After Usability Study
Before
After
On the home page, some users didn’t realise they could scroll horizontally to see more content in the "People's Favourites" section. To address this, I enlarged the book display, intentionally cutting off part of the books, signaling that more content is available by scrolling. This not only enhances the visual cue but also creates a more engaging user experience, allowing users to quickly glance at a variety of books and easily explore further options.
Before
After
I introduced a "Top 5" section at the top of each category page to help users stay informed about the latest book trends. The top-ranked book is featured prominently, with a larger display and a brief synopsis, while users can easily scroll down to explore the rest of the books in the category
Accessibility Considerations
1️⃣
The bold and contrasting elements of the brutalist design improve accessibility by helping users quickly locate information. This clear visual hierarchy aids individuals with visual impairments or cognitive challenges
2️⃣
The app provides customisable font sizes and colour schemes to enhance readability for users with visual impairments, ensuring a more accessible and comfortable reading experience.
3️⃣
The audiobook feature enhances accessibility by providing an alternative for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties, allowing them to engage with content through listening
Final Mockup Designs
High-Fidelity Prototype
Outcomes
Survey participants shared their anticipated usage of the application, with 55.5% indicating they would use it daily or 2-3 times a week, reflecting strong engagement potential. Meanwhile, 20% planned to use it sparingly, with some expressing limited familiarity with Kindle, highlighting an opportunity to boost adoption by increasing their understanding of digital reading
"It is very quick and easy to navigate, even faster than Kindle. The layout is clear and very well done."
Learnings
This project is really special to me as I've mostly only designed standard designs and haven't experimented with a design out of my comfort zone, therefore, I thoroughly enjoyed all the steps during this project. I believe I gained valuable insights into the significance of striking a balance between usability and aesthetics, revealing the close connection between design aesthetics and users' emotions.
What Would I Have Done Differently?
Due to time limitations, the generative survey covered a wider range, and it was previously determined that design refinements and optimisations following usability testing would not be included in this phase but would instead inform future work. If more time were available, I would have conducted a more comprehensive user research and tailored the design based on the usability test results.
